Fill in potholes legally, says JRA despite lack of service delivery
The entity cautions well-meaning residents to apply for a way leave to fix a pothole to avoid a potential clash with authorities.
As frustrations with service delivery continue to rise across the city, residents are taking matters into their own hands. Be it from paying for private healthcare, finding at-home electricity solutions, storing rainwater, or fixing potholes.
Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) is warning communities to only make repairs to public roads if they have the necessary permissions in place. Doing so without this, could land proactive citizens in hot water.
JRA spokesperson Bertha Peters-Scheepers said, “Anyone can work on the road as long as they apply for a specific wayleave, a document granting permission, and so that it is in accordance with the required conditions.”
She explained that JRA works closely with JMPD in terms of by-law enforcement. “Should the need arise, JMPD would be the enforcing partner as per conditions stated in the regulations of public road by-laws.”
The wayleave application form and other useful information can be found at www.jra.org.za
“JRA’s mandate is to work on the roads and to ensure the roads are maintained. A wayleave is required to ensure that signage is correctly installed, that traffic management is handled, and that those who are working on the road are protected from a legal standpoint.”
Potholes are formed when the rock structural layers of the road beneath the tar fail. “This is usually due to water getting into the structural layer and washing out particles of rock, which then causes localised collapse. “This explains why there are always more potholes after heavy rains.” If the surface or tar layer on top of the road is in poor condition, water is more likely to get into the structural layers and cause potholes to form.
She said, “It must be noted that pothole repairs are a short-term fix to ensure the safety of all road users, while resurfacing and, or reconstruction of roads, remains the long-term solution to improving the condition of the road network.”
When asked what the process was once the entity has been made aware of a pothole, she said, “A service request is logged and the responsible regional depot inspector would inspect the road to determine what repairs are needed. This process is followed for individual pothole repairs, deep patching for larger surfaces, road resurfacing, or even reconstruction. Based on the inspection, the remedial work is then undertaken as per the depot’s work schedule and resourcing availability. Once the work is completed the service request is then closed on the system.”
She said any work done on roads can have serious cost implications as a result of any of the following:
- Damage to roads and other services
- Damage to vehicles
- Injury to vehicle occupants, cyclists, or pedestrians
- Reduction in the effective life of the roadway, cycle track/lane, sidewalk, or any other services or facilities
- Time and social costs caused by delays.
“There is, therefore, a need to ensure careful control and coordination of all work on the roads, which is the JRA’s responsibility.”
Should a road user have a claim against the city for damages as a result of a pothole there is some relief. The JRA has public liability insurance which is categorised in three ways: personal injury, property damage or vehicle damage.
“A total of R116 155 662.80 was paid in respect of JRA public liability claims for the period 2021/2022 financial year.”
This is broken down as follows:
- Personal injury – 78
- Property damage – 15
- Vehicle damage – 91*
*The majority is attributed to potholes causing vehicle and wheel damage.
The public may lay a claim with JRA’s legal department for ‘alleged damages suffered due to the road and or infrastructure’, which includes missing manhole covers or kerb inlets that ‘the JRA as a city entity is mandated to maintain’.
How to report a pothole or road defect
- Via email at hotline@jra.org.za
- Customer Contact Centre 0860 562 874
- Twitter @MyJra
- Facebook: Johannesburg Roads Agency
- For dangerous or life-threatening potholes that have not been attended to: Send an email to hotline@jra.org.za along with the call logging reference number that was originally provided. The ward councillor can also be alerted to contact the regional depot.
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